Antenna



June-2, 1953 w, E. ROBBINS ANTENNA Filed Feb. 15, 1950 WMMY/l/A/A/A/VWILLIAM E. ROBBiNS I ATTORNEYS Patented June 2, 1953 ANTENNA William E.Robbins, Paynesville, Minn., assignor to Clifiord R. Myre, Paynesville,Minn.

Application February 15, 1950, Serial No. 144,237

13 Claims. 1

The herein disclosed invention relates to antennae and has for an objectto provide an antenna particularly adapted for use with televisionapparatus and other short wave apparatus.

Another object of the invention resides in providing an antenna whichwill hav sensitivity greatly in excess of the antennae now used for thepurpose.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing an antennawhich will have great structural strength and which will effectivelyresist the stresses produced by the weather elements.

Another object of the invention resides in providing an antenna S-shapedin form with two oppositely extending loops and in providing theterminals of the antenna at the ends of conductor from which the antennais formed.

An object of the invention resides in constructing the antenna of suchdimensions that the length of the conductor from which the antenna isconstructed is equal to approximately one wave length.

A still further object of the invention resides in bringing theterminals of the antenna at the center of the same and at the localityof the crossover portion of the antenna.

An object of the invention resides in arranging the loops of the antennain a vertical plane.

A feature of the invention resides in providing a single support for theantenna located at the crossover portion of the same and supporting theends and crossover portion as well as forming an insulator forsupporting the transmission line connected to the terminals of theantenna.

An object of the invention resides in providing a composite antennacomprising a number of S- shaped antennae arranged in a single verticalplane symmetrically about a common center and spaced from said center adistance from the center of each antenna equal to approximatelyonequarter wav length.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a composite antennaconsisting of four 8- shaped antennae arranged in a vertical plane inthe form of a diamond with the major axis of each antenna parallel tothe ground and arranged so that the distance between the center of eachantenna and the center of the diamond is approximately one-quarter wavelength and in connecting all of the antennae in parallel to a commontransmission line having terminals at the center of the diamond.

Another object of the invention resides in the specific construction ofthe supporting structure for the antennae.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterillustrated and/or described.

In the drawing an antenna S-shaped in form has been illustrated which isconstructed from a single conductor bent to form two loops with acrossover portion and with the ends of th conductor from which theantenna is constructed in close proximity to the crossover portion atthe center of the antenna. The crossover portion and the ends of theconductor from which the antenna is constructed are connected to aninsulator and are supported thereby and th ends of the conductor areinsulated from one another and the crossover portion to form terminalsto which a transmission line may be connected. The total length of theconductor from which the antenna is constructed is substantially equalto one wave length. In the drawings a composite antenna is shown whichconsists of four S-shaped antennae arranged in a vertical plane in theform of a quadrilateral. These antennae are situated so that thedistance from the center of each antenna to the center of thequadrilateral i approximately equal to one-quarter wave length. Theseantennae are connected in parallel and to a transmission line havingterminals at the center of the quadrilateral. A supporting structure forthe antennae is shown which comprises crossbars carrying the antennaeand reflectors used in conjunction therewith and mounted on fittings andsupporting arms attached to a suitable mast.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a composite antenna illustrating anumber of antennae each of which shows an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of one of the antennae shown in Fig. 1 anddrawn to a greater scale than the scale used for Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of the invention shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the mounting of the antenna shown inFig. 2 and drawn to a greater scale.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an elevational sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of one of the mountings of the inventionand drawn to a reduced scale.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the brace of the invention and drawn to thesame scale as Fig. 7.

The invention disclosed in th drawings consists of a composite antennaindicated in its entirety by the reference character A. This antennaconsists of four individual antennae ill. H, l2 and id, each constructedin accordance with the invention. These antennae being identical inconstruction, only the antenna II] will be described in detail.

The antenna I as best shown in Fig. 2 consists of a conductor E4constructed of aluminum tubing, or other suitable material and which isbent in the form of a letter S to provide first and second loops 5 andIt with curved outer portions and angularly disposed right-hand innerportions I8 and i811 and left-hand inner portions IE! and 19a. Theportions Mia and lSa lie in continuation of one another and are integraland form a crossover portion I! between the two loops !5 and E6. Theportions i8 and i8 of'theconductor 14 are the end portions of theconductor l4 and lie in continuation of one another. These portionsterminate in close proximity to the crossover portion ll of theconductor. The direction of extent of the end portions 28 and 49 formwith the direction of extent of the crossover portion I! and angle ofsubstantially 90. The ex treme ends of the end portions 58 and E9 of theconductor are flattened out and bent up to'form terminals 26 and 2! bymeans of which the antenna may be connected to theapparatus with whichit is to be used. The conductor i4 is supported by means of an insulator22 constructed of a plate of polystyrene or some other suitableinsulating material which can be readily machined and which hassufficient insulating characteristics at high frequencies. The crossoverportion ll of the conductor [4 extends on one side of the insulator 22and the end portions it and H) are disposed on the other side of saidinsulator. Screws 23 hold the crossover portion ll attached to theinsulator while screws 24 hold the end portions l8 and i9 attached tothe insulator. It will be noted that the terminals 23 and -2! are spacedfrom one another so that the said terminals are insulated from eachother and that crossover portion H is on the opposite side ofthemsulator 22 from the end portions i8 and [9 so that said terminalsare also insulated from the crossover portion.

The insulator 22 has attached to it a U-shaped strap 25 which straddlesthe crossoverportion ll of the conductor it as best shown in Figs. 5 and6.

This strap has feet 26 which rest on said insulator. Bolts 2'! extendingthrough the said feet and the insulator clamp the said strap inposition. The strap 25 has brazed or welded to it a tube clam in whichis mounted a supporting tube 29. Similar tubes 355, 31 and 32 areattached to the antennae ll, i2 and i3.

The antenna it utilizes a reflector 33 which is attached to the tube 29by means of a mounting 34 shown in detail in Fig. 7. This mounting 34consists of two tube clamps 35 and 3b which are arranged at right anglesto each other and welded or brazed together. The clamp 35 is adapted toreceive the end of the tube 29 while the clamp 36 is adapted to receivethe reflector 33. In this manner the antenna and reflector are supportedin proper relation to one another.

The tube 29 is attached to the upper end of a mast 37 by means ofanother mounting 38. This mounting is identical with the mounting 34.The antenna I3 is supported in the same manner as the antenna iii, beingcarried by a mountingSQ also identical with the mounting 34.Directly'below the mounting 39 is a mounting 49 which consists of a tubeclamp 4| embracing the mast 31 a tube clamp 54. .mast 31 and. serves torigidly secure the brace to the same. The ends of the tubes 22 areflattened and two tube clamps 42 and 43 arranged at an angle. These tubeclamps receive the ends of supporting arms 44 and 45 which extend angularly outwardly from the mast 3'! and in a plane parallel to the planeof the antennae ID and IS. The arms 44 and 45 are held in position bymeans of a brace 46 which consists of two sections 41 and 48 hingedlyconnectedtogether by means of hinge bolts 49. The'sections 4'! and 48include tubes 5! and 52 and through which the bolts 49 extend. Thesebolts also pass through a cross bar 53 which is provided at its centerwith This tube clamp receives the out and are formed to provide tubeclamps 55 and 5B which are adapted to receive and clamp the arms 44 and45. The outer ends of the arms 44 and 45 have mountings 5'5 and 53attached thereto which are identical with the mounting M and whichsupport the-tubes 30 and 31.

The length in feet of the conductor it forming the antennae I0, .12 andi3 is determined by dividing 984 by thefrequency in megacycles persecond, giving a length substantially equal to one wave length at thefrequency at which optimum performance is desired. At the geometriccenter of the composite antenna which is diagrammatically indicated at59in Fig.1 is provided a terminal not shown in the drawings. The fourantennae If], H, l2 and 13 are all located in the form of aquadrilateral being situated so that the centers of the insulators 22 ofthe said antennae are equally spacedfrom the center 59 and a distanceequal to substantially one-quarter wave length. The antennae are allsituated substantially in a common vertical plane. The length of thereflector 33'is approximately equal to 59.7% of a wave length while thespacing of the reflector from the antenna varies from 15% to 30 of awave length.

'In the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 3 two terminals 60 and 6| arediagrammatically designated which are at the locality of the-center 59.These terminalshave connected to them a transmission line 62 which, whenthe antenna is used for television reception, may be a 300 ohm line. Thesaid terminals are connected by means of feeder lines 63 t0 theterminals 20 and 2i of the various antennae whereby all of the antennaeare connected in parallel and to the transmission line 62. The .variousantennaeare connected in the manner shownin Fig. 3 so that thecurrentsin said antennae alltravel inthe same direction in allof the antennae.Likewise the current in each-.of theantennae travels in the samedirection throughout the conductor forming the said antenna.

1 have found thatin actual use an antenna constructed in accordance withthe instant invention is far more eflicient than a doublet or foldeddipole-or other similar antenna now used for the purpose. I have alsofound that the composite antenna utilizing the four individual antennaearranged in the form of a quadrilateral and spaced apart substantiallyone-half wave length gives remarkable results far greater than might benormally expected. With such an antenna interference is greatly'reduced.

Changes in the specific form of the invention, as herein described, maybe made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of the invention.

'Having described the invention, what is 5 claimed as new'and desired tobe protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In an antenna a conductor S-shaped in form having two oppositelyextending loops with a crossover portion therebetween' and with the endsof the conductor situated adjacent the center of the crossover portionand insulated therefrom and from one another to form separate ungroundedterminals to which a twin lead transmission line may be connected.

2. In an antenna a conductor S-shaped in form having two oppositelyextending loops with a crossover portion therebetween and with the endsof the conductor situated adjacent the center of the crossover portionand an insulator disposed between said crossover portion and the ends ofthe conductor and to which said crossover portion and the ends of theconductor are attached.

3. In an antenna conductor S-shaped in form with the ends of theconductor insulated from one another and from the rest of the conductorand disposed at the center" of the antenna and forming terminals towhich a transmission line may be connected.

4. In a composite antenna a number of antennae each 8-shaped in formeach having terminals near its center, said antennae being arrangedsubstantially in a vertical plane and arranged about a geometric centerat a distance from said center to the center of the antennaesubstantially equal to one-quarter wave length, two terminals locatedsubstantially at said geometric center, a transmission line connected tosaid terminals and feeders connected to said terminals and to theterminals of said antennae.

5. In a composite antenna a number of antennae each S-shaped in formeach having terminals ear its center, said antennae being arrangedsubstantially in a vertical plane and ar- 1 ranged about a geometriccenter at a distance from said center to the center of the antennaesubstantially equal to one-quarter wave length and a transmission lineconnected to the terminals of said antennae and connecting said antennaein parallel, said transmission line having terminals at said geometriccenter.

6. In a composite antenna a number of antennae each S-shaped in formeach having terminals near its center, said antennae being arrangedsubstantially in a vertical plane and arranged about a geometric centerat a distance from said center to the center of the antennaesubstantialh equal to one-quarter wave length, terminals at saidgeometric center, feeders connected to said terminals and to saidantennae and connectingsaid antennae in parallel and a transmission lineconnected to said terminals.

7. In a composite antenna four antennae each S-shaped in form eachhaving terminals near its center, said antennae being arrangedsubstantially in a vertical plane in the form of a quadrilateral andabout a geometric center, the distance between the center of eachantenna and said geometric center being substantially a quarter wavelength, two terminals located substantially at said geometric center, atransmission line connected to said terminals and feeders connected tosaid terminals and to the terminals of said antennae.

8. In a composite antenna four antennae each S-shaped in form eachhaving terminals near its center, said antennae being arrangedsubstantially in a vertical plane in the form of a quadrilateral andabout a geometric center, the distance between the center of eachantenna and said geometric center being substantially a quarter wavelength, the major axes of all of said antennae being parallel to theground, two terminals located substantially at said geometric center, atransmission line connected to said terminals and feeders connected tosaid terminal and to the terminals of said antennae.

9. In an antenna, a conductor formed in the configuration of a letter Swith the ends of the conductor in juxtaposition near the center of theconfiguration and insulated from one another and a twin leadtransmission line connected to the extreme ends of said conductor.

10. In an antenna, a conductor provided with first and second oppositelyfacing loops disposed substantially in a common plane each having curvedouter portions and angularly disposed right-hand and left-hand innerportions, the right-hand inner portion of the first loop being connectedto and disposed in alignment with the left-hand inner portion of thesecond loop to form an ungrounded crossover portion between said loops,the left-hand inner portion of the first loop and the right-hand innerportion of the second loop being disposed in alignment with one anotherand the extreme ends thereof falling short of one another and of saidcrossover'portion and being disposed in juxtaposition near the center ofsaid crossover portion and an ungrounded twin lead transmission lineconnected to the extreme ends of the left-hand inner portion of thefirst loop and the right-hand inner portion of the second loop.

11. In an antenna, a conductor provided with first and second oppositelyfacing loops disposed substantially in a common plane each having curvedouter portions and angularly disposed right-hand and left-hand innerportions, the right-hand inner portion of the first loop being connectedto and disposed in alignment with the left-hand inner portion of thesecond loop to form a crossover portion between said loops, theleft-hand inner portion of the first loop and the right-hand innerportion of the second loop being disposed in alignment with one anotherand the extreme ends thereof falling short of one another and of saidcrossover portion and being disposed in juxtaposition near the center ofsaid crossover portion, the direction of extent of the left-hand innerportion of the first loop and the right-hand inner portion of the secondloop forming with the direction of extent of said crossover portion anangle of substantially ninety degrees and a transmission line connectedto the extreme ends of the left-hand inner portion of the first loop andthe right-hand inner portion of the second loop.

12. In an antenna, a conductor provided with first and second oppositelyfacing loops disposed substantially in a common plane each having curvedouter portions and angularly disposed right-hand and left-hand innerportions, the right-hand inner portion of the first loop being connectedto and disposed in alignment with the left-hand inner portion of thesecond loop to form an ungrounded crossover portion between said loops,a four cornered insulator, said cross over portion extending diagonallyacross two of the corners of said insulator and secured to theinsulator, the left-hand inner portion of the first loop and theright-hand inner portion of the second loop being disposed insubstantial alignment with one another and the extreme ends thereoffalling short of one another and of said crossover mortionzandibeingdisposed in juxtaposition near the.center of said crossover portion andextending diagonally across the other corners of the insulator andattached thereto and an ungrounded .twin lead transmission .lineconnected to the extreme'ends of the left-hand inner, portion ofth'efirst loop vanti'theright-hand inner portionof the I second loop.

13. In an antenna, a'conductorprovided with first-and secondoppositely'facing loops disposed substantially in a =common plane eachhaving curved outer portions and 'angularly disposed right-hand andlefthand inner portions, the right-hand inner portion of the first loopbeing connected to and disposed in alignment with the left-hand innerporti'onof the second loop to form an ungrounded crossover portionbetween said loops, a -plate+like insulator,-said crossover portionextending across said insulator on one side thereof and being attachedto said insulator outwardly "of the center thereof, the left-hand innerportion of .the first loop and the right-hand innernportion-ofthe-second loop :being disposed in substantial alignment 'with one E.ROBBINS.

References Cited in thefile =0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,190,816 Wheeler Feb. 20, 1940 2,338,564 'Aram -Jan.-4, 19442,444,320 Woodward June .-28,.1948 2,467,991 Raburn-et a1. Apr. .19,1949 2,521,550 Smith -Sept. 5,1950

